# US 10,871,780 B2 · Intermediate mounting component and sensor system for a Mansfield bar of a cargo trailer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,780 B2 - Document ID: US10871780B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/883,889 - Filed: 2018-01-30 - Published: 2019-08-01 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-30 - Assignees: Uatc, LLC - Applicants: Uatc, LLC - Inventors: Michael Carter; Soren Juelsgaard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871780B2 ## CPC - G05D 1/0238: {using obstacle or wall sensors (G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93)} - B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle - B60R 19/56: {Fittings damping bouncing force in truck collisions, e.g. bumpers;} Arrangements on high-riding vehicles, e.g. lorries, for preventing vehicles or objects from running thereunder - B60W 30/00: Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units - G01S 13/865: {Combination of radar systems with lidar systems} - G01S 13/867: {Combination of radar systems with cameras} - G01S 13/874: {Combination of several systems for attitude determination (in general G01C, control of attitude G05D1/49)} - G01S 13/931: of land vehicles - G01S 17/86: Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders - G01S 17/875: for determining attitude - G01S 17/931: of land vehicles - G05D 1/0246: {using a video camera in combination with image processing means} - B60Y 2200/148: Semi-trailers, articulated vehicles - G01S 2013/9323: {Alternative operation using light waves} - G01S 2013/93272: {in the back of the vehicles} - G01S 2013/93275: {in the bumper area} - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract A self-driving semi-truck can include tractor comprising a drive system, a first set of sensors mounted to the tractor, a fifth wheel, and cargo trailer comprising a kingpin coupled to the fifth wheel. The cargo trailer can include a Mansfield bar having a second set of sensors mounted thereto, where the second set of sensors have a rearward field of view from the trailer. The semi-truck can include an autonomous control system that receives sensor data from the first set of sensors and the second set of sensors, and analyzes the live sensor view to autonomously operate the drive system along a current route. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A self-driving semi-truck comprising: a tractor comprising a fifth wheel and a drive system; a first set of sensors mounted to the tractor; a cargo trailer comprising a kingpin coupled to the fifth wheel, the cargo trailer further comprising a Mansfield bar; a second set of sensors mounted to the Mansfield bar such that the second set of sensors have a rearward field of view, the second set of sensors comprising a first radar sensor and a second radar sensor spaced apart from one another along a length of the Mansfield bar; and an autonomous control system comprising processing resources executing an instruction set, causing the autonomous control system to: receive sensor data from the first set of sensors and the second set of sensors, the sensor data providing a live sensor view of a surrounding environment of the self-driving semi-truck; and analyze the live sensor view to autonomously operate the drive system along a current route. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The self-driving semi-truck of claim 1, wherein the second set of sensors is mounted to the Mansfield bar via an intermediate mounting component having a first set of securing features removably mounted to the Mansfield bar, and a second set of securing features to which each of the second set of sensors is mounted. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The self-driving semi-truck of claim 2, wherein the intermediate mounting component extends for substantially a full length of the Mansfield bar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The self-driving semi-truck of claim 3, wherein the at least one radar sensor first radar sensor and the second radar sensor each dynamically generate radar data for perception operations by the autonomous control system while autonomously operating the self-driving semi-truck along the current route. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The self-driving semi-truck of claim 2, wherein the second set of sensors comprises at least one camera mounted to the second set of securing features at a central location of the Mansfield bar, the at least one camera dynamically generating image data for perception operations by the autonomous control system while autonomously operating the self-driving semi-truck along the current route. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The self-driving semi-truck of claim 1, wherein the second set of sensors comprises at least one LIDAR sensor positioned along the length of the Mansfield bar such that the at least one LIDAR sensor is positioned between the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The self-driving semi-truck of claim 6, wherein the at least one LIDAR sensor comprises one of a high-definition LIDAR sensor or a low definition LIDAR sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The self-driving semi-truck of claim 1, wherein the autonomous control system comprise a communication interface connected to the cargo trailer, wherein the sensor data from the second set of sensors is received via the communication interface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The self-driving semi-truck of claim 8, wherein the communication interface comprises a bus connector including a power pin providing power to the second set of sensors and a data pin receiving the sensor data from the second set of sensors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The self-driving semi-truck of claim 8, wherein the communication interface comprises a wireless communication interface that wirelessly receives the sensor data from the second set of sensors. ### Claim 11 A sensor system comprising: an intermediate mounting component comprising a first set of securing features removably mounted to a Mansfield bar of a cargo trailer, the intermediate mounting component further comprising a second set of securing features; a plurality of sensors mounted to the second set of securing features such that the plurality of sensors have a rearward field of view, the plurality of sensors comprising a first radar sensor and a second radar sensor spaced apart from one another along a length of the intermediate mounting component; and a communication interface dynamically transmitting sensor data from the plurality of sensors to an autonomous control system of self-driving semi-truck. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sensor system of claim 11, wherein the communication interface comprises a wired connection to a bus connector that includes a power pin providing power to the plurality of sensors and a data pin transmitting the sensor data from the plurality of sensors to the autonomous control system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sensor system of claim 11, wherein the intermediate mounting component extends for substantially a full length of the Mansfield bar. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The sensor system of claim 11, wherein the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor each generate radar data for perception operations by the autonomous control system while the autonomous control system autonomously operates the self-driving semi-truck. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The sensor system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one camera mounted to the second set of securing features at a central location of the Mansfield bar, the at least one camera dynamically generating image data for perception operations by the autonomous control system while the autonomous control system autonomously operates the self-driving semi-truck. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The sensor system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one LIDAR sensor positioned between the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor along the length of the intermediate mounting component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sensor system of claim 16, wherein the at least one LIDAR sensor comprises one of a high-definition LIDAR sensor or a low definition LIDAR sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The sensor system of claim 11, wherein the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor are mounted to opposing ends of the intermediate mounting component. ### Claim 19 A sensor array kit comprising: an intermediate mounting component comprising a first set of securing features mounted to a Mansfield bar of a cargo trailer, the intermediate mounting component further comprising a second set of securing features; a plurality of sensors mounted to the second set of securing features such that the plurality of sensors have a rearward field of view, the plurality of sensors comprise at least a first radar sensor and a second radar sensor spaced apart from one another along a length of the intermediate mounting component; and a communication interface dynamically transmitting sensor data from the plurality of sensors to an autonomous control system of self-driving semi-truck.